Scientists Discover Weird Mongolian Dinosaur That Wielded 'Sharp, Huge' Claws
Summary
Scientists have discovered a new dinosaur species in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, adding to the diversity of Therizinosaurs. This species stands out due to its unusual features, including a reduced number of clawed fingers. Researchers believe it used its claws for grasping vegetation and possibly for defense. Despite being part of the theropod group, it was herbivorous. The discovery highlights the ongoing evolution and experimentation of dinosaurs during the Cretaceous period, emphasizing the region's significance as a rich fossil site.
Interesting or Important Facts
A new dinosaur species, Duonychus tsogtbaatari, was discovered in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert.
The Mongolian Gobi Desert is considered one of the world’s richest dinosaur fossil sites, according to UNESCO.
The name Duonychus means “two claws” in Greek.
It stood about 10 feet tall and weighed approximately 570 pounds.
Duonychus was covered in down and quill-like feathers.
It belonged to the Therizinosaur group. Therizinosaurs had leaf-shaped teeth, backward-facing hip bones, long necks, and small heads.
Therizinosaurs lived in Asia and North America during the Cretaceous Period (145–66 million years ago).
Duonychus had only two clawed fingers on each hand, unlike other Therizinosaurs, which had three.
Its claws were about 1 foot long and were likely used for grasping vegetation, self-defense, or grappling.
Despite being part of the theropod group, which includes meat-eaters like Tyrannosaurus, it was herbivorous.
The fossil was excavated in 2012 from the Bayanshiree Formation, dating back 90 million years.
The specimen was a partial skeleton, missing the skull and legs, but had exceptionally preserved hands.
Scientists describe Duonychus as an evolutionary oddity, further pushing the uniqueness of Therizinosaurs.
My Opinion
This discovery is fascinating because it highlights how diverse and unusual dinosaurs could be. Duonychus tsogtbaatari challenges the idea that all theropods were fearsome predators, showing that evolution took unexpected turns. Learning that it had only two massive claws instead of the usual three makes me wonder how and why certain traits developed over time. It’s incredible to see how scientists continue to uncover new species, proving that there's still so much to learn about prehistoric life.